Truss



Dec. 24, 1929. H. G..NORWOOD 1,740,952

TRUSS Filed Aug. 1'7, 1927 FIG. FIG. 2 FIG. 3

Z W M k i i H6. 4 I FIG. 5

lNI/ENTOR HARRY G. NORWOOD A TTORNH Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY G NORWOOD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNO'R OF ONE-HALF TO A. D. T. LIBBY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND ONE-HALF TO CLARENCE S. MAYER,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed August 17, 1927.

This invention relates to a truss. especially adapted for use in connectionwith a hernia. There are in use today many forms of trusses and in general they comprise a holder of some sort fitted with supporting straps for fastening to a. persons body. The holder carries a pad or cushion which engages the hernia, being held by the holder and straps firmly against the hernia or rupture. I have found by experience, derived from the use of a number of trusses that are on the market, which I have tried to find the most comfort, that these pads, fitting as they do into the herniaactually enlarge it. Furthermore, I have never been able to wear them at night.

After much study of the problem for the purpose of getting relief, I have discovered the principles which must be incorporated in a truss to give the best result. These principles maybe stated in the general objects of my invention which are, First: to provide a truss which will be easier and more comfortable than those heretofore designed.

Second: to provide a truss which acts on the hernia so as to tend to close the same rather than to open it.

Third: to provide a truss having bearing surfaces separated in such a manner and constructed so as to attain the objects previously set forth.

Fourth: to provide a truss having the central portion which engages the rupture of greater flexibility than the co-acting adja' cent part whereby the tendency of the pe- 5 ripheral portion is to push the flesh toward the wound or rupture, to facilitate healing of the tissues. 7

Fifth: to provide a: truss having its flesh engaging surface so arranged as to automati- 10 cally assist in holding the truss in position. These and other minor objects will be more clearly apparent after a stuc y of the specification which follows taken in connection with the drawing forming a part hereof:

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the truss showing the supporting straps cut off.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1. a Figure 3' is a vertical central section through Figure 1 without the straps.

' TRUSS Serial No. 213,540.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form.

Figure 5 is a side View of the modified form of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical central section through Figure 4.

Referring to the details, 1 is a holder preferably of some light, but relatively strong nonmetallic substance, such as hard rubber or its equivalent.

To the holder 1 is attached a cushion 2. The holder shown has a bridge 3, spaced from the central part of the holder so as to form a channel 6 for the main support strap 4, whlle 5 is an auxiliary strap which may be attached to the holder in any satisfactory manner.

My invention resides particularly in the cushion and the holder may be of any satisfactory construction. The cushion 2 is preferably constructed of soft rubber and it has a plurality of arches, a central arch 7 and a peripheral arch 8. These arches have a common fulcrum 9 which is in the shape of a circular abutment thatengages a wall of the holder 1. Preferably the arched portion 7 has an outer contact surface which is substantially flat for a. distance as indicated between the points 10 and 11. It is this portion which is adapted to enter the hernia while the portion 12 of the peripheral arch 8 may be flat for a short space. I have found that a flat surface over a hernia is preferable to a surface terminating in an apex.

The arch 7 is arranged and constructed so as to have more flexibility than the arch '8, so the part that is in actual contact with the rupture makes a soft delicate contact therewith. By this construction I have found that the pressure of the anatomy at the hernia produces a slight rolling effect of the arch 8 toward the central arch, and that the effect actually tends to move the flesh toward the rupture and if taken in time, will greatly aid in healing.

In addition I have found that the annular space 13 between the contact surfaces of the arches acting in connection with the moisture of the body tends by suction to hold the truss in its proper place.

As shown in Figure 3 the cushion 2 may be held to the holder as by interlocking annular collars 14; and 15 which however may take the form as shown in Figure 6. In this latter figure the cushion is slightly modified as to the construction of the peripheral arch 8 which may be larger and the inner contour inclined toward the outer rim of the cushion and this gives still greater resilience to the peripheral arch. It will be understood that since the cushion is soft rubber this construction can readily be obtained. By the construction herein disclosed I have obtained a truss which is so easy in its action that it can be worn at night without the slightest discomfort and while I have shown a holder and cushion circular in form, I mean to include any elliptical or oval shape; in fact, these parts may take any desired size and shape to fit the hernia or the case at hand, and the claims are intended to cover broadly a truss having a cushion constructed of a plurality of spaced arches having a common fulcrum abutment to attain the objects set forth.

I claim:

1. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, a cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion having a central flesh engaging portion and an integral outer flesh engaging portion concentrically spaced apart from the central portion, said portions being formed as arches having a common union, the inner portion of which engages said supporting means, substantially as described.

2. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, a cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion having a plurality of integral concentrically arranged flesh engaging arched portions supported by circular abutments engaging parts of the supporting means, one of said abutments being common to two arches.

3. In a hernia. truss, a supporting means, a cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion having a central arch supported by a circular abutment engaging the supporting means, a peripheral arch concentric with the central arch and supported on one side by the same abutment that supports the central arch and supported on the other side by an'annular abutment engaging the supporting means.

4. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, an integral cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion having a pair of spaced arch flesh engaging portions with an annular abutment common to both arches and engaging said supporting means whereby pressure on one arch is transmitted to the other arch.

'5. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, an integral cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion being provided with at least a pair of concentric arches having a common fulcrum abutment to engage said supporting means to sustain the arches thereby offering both resistance and resiliency to said arches.

6. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, a cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion having a rim portion to fit the supporting means, a central arch to fit a rupture, a circular arch spaced from the central arch to engage the person outside the area of the rupture and a circular abutment between and common to the two arches and engaging said supporting means.

7. In a hernia truss a supporting means,

an integral cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion comprising a central arched portion having its outer surface to fit over the wound or rupture, an outer arched portion concentrically arranged with respect to and anchored to the central arched portion, said anchor having a part to engage said supporting means whereby the arched portions transmit pressure, one to the other, so as to act on the flesh of the person wearing the truss tending to draw the flesh around the wound or rupture to close the same.

8. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, an integral cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, a central arched portion having its outer surface to fit over the wound or rupture,

a second arched portion spaced apart from and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to the central arched portion and having a common abutment therewith engaging said supporting means whereby pressure on the central arched portion produces a rolling action of the surface of the peripheral arch toward the center arch as and for the purpose described.

9. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, an integral cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, a central arched portion having its outer surface to fit over the wound or rupture, a second arched portion spaced apart from and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to the central arched portion and having a common abutment therewith engaging said supporting means said arches and common abutment being so arranged as to provide an annular air space between the flesh engaging contact surfaces of the arches and the central arch being more resilient than the outer arch as and for the purposes described.

10. In a hernia truss, a supporting means, an integral cushion of resilient material having means for attachment to said supporting means, said cushion having; a central arched HARRY Gr. NORWOOD. 

